Online Home Health Aide Certification: See Top Programs
The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:
HealthcareEditorialNursing EditorialSenior CareDementia Care
NursingNursing Ed.Find top programs offering accredited online home health aide courses, how the programs work, their cost, and how long it takes to go from school to a home health aide career.
Earning Your Home Health Aide Certification Online
Many home health aide certification programs now exist online to help busy students find the time to further their education and their careers without needing to visit campus multiple times per week. According to federal guidelines, home health aide programs need to provide at least 16 hours of supervised training for their students (which must be in-person).
Because of this, the remaining portion of the program can exist fully online and meet all state and federal mandates. Most programs use a learning management platform, such as Blackboard or Canvas, for course activities including:
- Completing exams and quizzes
- Communicating with professors and classmates (online forums)
- Submitting assignments
- Downloading study material and other resources
In these programs, professors assist you in applying the material you learn in class to practice with actual patients in clinical settings.
Why choose online training for HHA certification?
Online training for home health aide certification is becoming more and more popular as it makes it possible for you to complete programmatic requirements at times best suited to your unique schedules without needing to drive to/from campus multiple times per week. Online learning offers numerous benefits for students determined to further their education.
Before committing to this option, however, you should consider factors like convenience, reputation, and cost.
Convenience
Any location with a secure and steady internet connection can be used for completing online education programs, making them convenient for individuals with packed schedules. Remember that you must complete at least 16 in-person clinical hours as part of programmatic requirements.
Reputation
When looking at potential community colleges and vocational schools offering home health aide courses, you should ensure they maintain a good reputation. Look for institutional accreditation – especially if you plan to return to school for a degree, as reputation can affect your ability to receive admission.
Cost
The cost of home health aide programs can vary widely, with schools such as Southern Technical Institute offering programs for as low as $199 and others costing thousands of dollars. Check with the financial aid office to learn about cost, available scholarships and grants, and payment plans before enrolling.
Breakdown of Home Health Aide Certification
As you begin researching and reviewing prospective home health aide training programs, you may wonder how long it typically takes to move from matriculation to graduation. Put simply, this depends on the state in which you live.
The federal government mandates that programs provide students with at least 75 hours of home health education in total. The National Academy of Medicine suggests 120 hours. Regardless of your path, home health aide programs can be completed relatively quickly – far more quickly than a traditional diploma or degree path.
To begin working, you will need to meet federal training requirements and pass a competency examination.
What are the federal HHA training requirements?
In order to meet federal requirements, you must enroll in a home health training program that meets the following criteria:
- Provides a total of at least 75 hours of home health education
- Arranges at least 16 in-person training hours (of the total 75)
These hours focus on building the skills needed to interact with and care for patients, which include:
- Communicating effectively
- Observing and reporting the patient’s health status
- Taking and recording vital statistics
- Controlling basic infections
- Maintaining a clean and safe home
- Caring for physical, emotional, and developmental needs
- Attending to personal hygiene and grooming needs
- Improving range of motion
- Implementing safe transfer techniques
- Providing adequate nutrition
Understanding HHA Training Requirements by State
In addition to federal mandates, prospective home health aides must also familiarize themselves with the rules of individual states. Most states follow the federal minimum of 75 hours, and others require even more coursework to meet the National Academy of Medicine’s suggestion of 120 hours.
Some states even require you to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) before becoming a home health aide. If your state has this requirement, we can help. Check out our page dedicated to online CNA classes to learn more.
In general, if you’re unsure of what your state requires, review PHI’s map demonstrating home health aide training requirements by state.
Expert Insight
Though the roles of certified nursing assistant and home health aide are similar, CNA training is more applicable to medical settings like nursing homes and hospitals. The education is more advanced because CNAs are more likely to be exposed to complex medical equipment than a home health aide.
Course Overview: Online Home Health Aide Training
Home health aide curricula includes clerical and clinical knowledge and skills. The majority of these courses are mandated by the federal government, which requires provision of academic coursework and hands-on training. The following two sections take a look at some of the skills gained in both online and classroom-based courses.
Home health aide classes that can be taken online:
Creating safe home environments. Students in this course consider some of the everyday items that can act as safety hazards for those they serve. Learners consider outdoor hazards, learn how to assess an environment for safety issues, and how to help their patients avoid situations that would cause them to slip, trip, or fall.
Communicating effectively. This class helps learners build effective communication skills for working with patients and other healthcare providers. Students learn how to observe and identify changes in patients, communicate with family members, and work with their patients to regularly assess comfort and health.
Serving children. This specialized course helps learners develop the unique skills needed to serve children in the home. Some of the specific topics covered include understanding developmental stages, identifying developmental disabilities, navigating family relations, addressing abuse, and providing care to premature infants.
Nutritional needs. Individuals enrolled in this class learn about how to plan, purchase, and serve food to their patients. They learn about “My Plate” guidelines, how to navigate food allergies, proper food preparation and storage, and how to handle feeding issues. They also cover several therapeutic diets.
Expert Insight
You’ll also learn about ethical and legal matters, such as patient privacy, preventing hazards, and handling difficult situations in the home. These programs are a great stepping stone for future practice as a nurse, physical therapist, or medical assistant.
Home Health Aide clinicals that must be taken in-person/on campus:
Moving patients. Home health aides in training learn how to properly lift and move patients from beds, chairs, and automobiles in a way that is safe for them and the patient. They also learn about moving other heavy objects such as medical equipment or furniture.
Checking vital signs. Because their patients aren’t in hospital settings, home health aides must know how to check blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, respiration rate, and oxygen saturation.
Cooking meals. Students learn how to shop for, prepare, and cook meals that meet specific nutritional requirements. Home health aides must cook for a variety of health concerns, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diseases that can be partially managed through diet. They must also learn how to store these meals.
Assisting with medications. While home health aides cannot administer medications, they are often in charge of ensuring their patients take the right dosage at the correct time(s) each day. Examples could include preparing pills and ointments for the patient to self-administer.
FIND PROGRAMS NEAR YOU:
Salary & Career Outlook for Home Health Aide Professionals
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3,715,500 | 4,520,100 | 804,600 | 21.70% | 684,600 |
| Alabama | 21,890 | 25,160 | 3,270 | 14.90% | 3,780 |
| Alaska | 4,550 | 5,260 | 710 | 15.60% | 790 |
| Arizona | 68,550 | 96,120 | 27,570 | 40.20% | 14,840 |
| Arkansas | 20,310 | 24,670 | 4,360 | 21.50% | 3,730 |
| California | 796,900 | 1,060,200 | 263,300 | 33.00% | 162,570 |
| Colorado | 38,300 | 48,710 | 10,410 | 27.20% | 7,420 |
| Connecticut | 47,750 | 57,730 | 9,980 | 20.90% | 8,740 |
| Delaware | 9,530 | 12,350 | 2,820 | 29.60% | 1,890 |
| District of Columbia | 11,530 | 13,630 | 2,100 | 18.20% | 2,060 |
| Florida | 72,410 | 88,750 | 16,340 | 22.60% | 13,460 |
| Georgia | 36,890 | 46,020 | 9,130 | 24.70% | 6,990 |
| Idaho | 17,960 | 23,500 | 5,540 | 30.80% | 3,600 |
| Illinois | 108,190 | 124,190 | 16,000 | 14.80% | 18,650 |
| Indiana | 44,830 | 54,650 | 9,820 | 21.90% | 8,280 |
| Iowa | 25,390 | 32,770 | 7,380 | 29.10% | 5,000 |
| Kansas | 27,140 | 32,990 | 5,850 | 21.60% | 5,000 |
| Kentucky | 24,650 | 30,540 | 5,890 | 23.90% | 4,640 |
| Louisiana | 36,540 | 44,950 | 8,410 | 23.00% | 6,820 |
| Maine | 17,090 | 17,770 | 680 | 4.00% | 2,630 |
| Maryland | 32,420 | 38,640 | 6,220 | 19.20% | 5,830 |
| Massachusetts | 39,480 | 46,500 | 7,020 | 17.80% | 7,010 |
| Michigan | 85,480 | 100,320 | 14,840 | 17.40% | 15,110 |
| Minnesota | 113,680 | 129,520 | 15,840 | 13.90% | 19,420 |
| Mississippi | 17,560 | 22,720 | 5,160 | 29.40% | 3,470 |
| Missouri | 79,380 | 91,510 | 12,130 | 15.30% | 13,750 |
| Montana | 8,850 | 11,790 | 2,940 | 33.20% | 1,810 |
| Nebraska | 10,120 | 12,360 | 2,240 | 22.10% | 1,870 |
| Nevada | 16,000 | 21,330 | 5,330 | 33.30% | 3,270 |
| New Hampshire | 8,760 | 10,780 | 2,020 | 23.10% | 1,640 |
| New Jersey | 94,150 | 115,060 | 20,910 | 22.20% | 17,440 |
| New Mexico | 36,890 | 50,200 | 13,310 | 36.10% | 7,720 |
| New York | 551,740 | 710,140 | 158,400 | 28.70% | 15,840 |
| North Carolina | 62,750 | 77,390 | 14,640 | 23.30% | 11,740 |
| North Dakota | 7,310 | 9,010 | 1,700 | 23.30% | 1,370 |
| Ohio | 95,690 | 108,260 | 12,570 | 13.10% | 16,220 |
| Oklahoma | 19,090 | 23,300 | 4,210 | 22.10% | 3,530 |
| Oregon | 36,900 | 46,170 | 9,270 | 25.10% | 7,020 |
| Pennsylvania | 188,340 | 217,220 | 28,880 | 15.30% | 32,640 |
| Rhode Island | 8,070 | 10,000 | 1,930 | 23.90% | 1,520 |
| South Carolina | 32,340 | 43,300 | 10,960 | 33.90% | 6,650 |
| South Dakota | 4,620 | 5,340 | 720 | 15.60% | 800 |
| Tennessee | 32,820 | 46,870 | 14,050 | 42.80% | 7,250 |
| Texas | 313,670 | 367,500 | 53,830 | 17.20% | 55,350 |
| Utah | 15,000 | 19,730 | 4,730 | 31.50% | 3,020 |
| Vermont | 7,460 | 9,600 | 2,140 | 28.70% | 1,470 |
| Virgin Islands | 240 | 270 | 30 | 12.50% | 40 |
| Virginia | 60,230 | 81,100 | 20,870 | 34.70% | 12,450 |
| West Virginia | 20,130 | 25,780 | 5,650 | 28.10% | 3,930 |
| Wisconsin | 80,600 | 94,000 | 13,400 | 16.60% | 14,150 |
| Wyoming | 3,260 | 4,210 | 950 | 29.10% | 640 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $25,600 | $34,900 | $44,190 |
| Alabama | $20,400 | $27,100 | $32,630 |
| Alaska | $28,890 | $38,370 | $45,780 |
| Arizona | $30,120 | $36,120 | $39,610 |
| Arkansas | $23,600 | $27,110 | $30,930 |
| California | $33,280 | $34,600 | $38,830 |
| Connecticut | $32,640 | $38,200 | $45,690 |
| Delaware | $27,560 | $31,760 | $39,980 |
| District of Columbia | $36,510 | $39,420 | $44,520 |
| Florida | $29,000 | $32,580 | $37,810 |
| Georgia | $22,660 | $27,950 | $38,600 |
| Hawaii | $29,120 | $36,960 | $42,090 |
| Idaho | $24,970 | $33,560 | $38,690 |
| Illinois | $31,790 | $36,310 | $40,240 |
| Indiana | $27,990 | $31,440 | $37,790 |
| Iowa | $29,530 | $35,250 | $44,460 |
| Kansas | $24,320 | $29,190 | $36,980 |
| Kentucky | $25,080 | $34,810 | $47,780 |
| Louisiana | $17,950 | $21,170 | $29,850 |
| Maine | $34,730 | $37,670 | $45,210 |
| Maryland | $31,200 | $36,970 | $46,570 |
| Massachusetts | $36,970 | $39,520 | $44,770 |
| Michigan | $24,510 | $33,410 | $42,000 |
| Minnesota | $30,810 | $36,200 | $44,450 |
| Mississippi | $21,480 | $23,640 | $30,110 |
| Missouri | $27,200 | $29,640 | $43,260 |
| Montana | $23,520 | $33,150 | $42,710 |
| Nebraska | $29,780 | $34,330 | $42,230 |
| Nevada | $24,460 | $29,420 | $35,740 |
| New Hampshire | $30,400 | $36,610 | $45,410 |
| New Jersey | $31,470 | $37,080 | $45,760 |
| New Mexico | $25,540 | $27,390 | $35,330 |
| New York | $35,280 | $37,980 | $45,550 |
| North Carolina | $23,310 | $30,100 | $37,160 |
| North Dakota | $33,820 | $39,100 | $48,280 |
| Ohio | $26,070 | $30,670 | $37,470 |
| Oklahoma | $21,790 | $26,540 | $33,730 |
| Oregon | $36,340 | $41,490 | $51,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $24,790 | $29,310 | $37,830 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | $41,890 | $47,610 |
| South Carolina | $22,000 | $29,030 | $35,560 |
| South Dakota | $29,970 | $36,780 | $45,980 |
| Tennessee | $25,930 | $30,720 | $38,600 |
| Texas | $20,550 | $23,470 | $30,580 |
| Utah | $30,750 | $35,970 | $45,850 |
| Vermont | $28,520 | $34,260 | $46,410 |
| Virginia | $26,560 | $29,190 | $37,700 |
| Washington | $38,650 | $46,140 | $53,710 |
| West Virginia | $21,720 | $26,560 | $32,850 |
| Wisconsin | $24,680 | $34,140 | $39,330 |
| Wyoming | $28,110 | $31,280 | $52,000 |
Source: Home Health & Personal Care Aides, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
Home Health Aide Resources
After reviewing the information provided in this guide, if you feel that you need more information to make up your mind, use these valuable resources highlighted below to help make the decision easier.
- Five Reasons to Become a Home Health Aide. BAYADA lays out meaningful reasons to follow this career path for those who are still on the fence.
- Home Health Aide Profile – Bureau of Labor Statistics. Use this page to learn about what home health aides do, how to become one, pay, job outlook, and more.
- Home Health Aide Profile – Career One Stop. This page offers actionable and helpful information about what it looks like to work as an HHA.
- Home Health Aide Interview Questions. Monster provides examples of real questions you may encounter on a job interview.
- A Day in the Life of a Home Health Aide. This page offers an insightful look at how HHAs spend a typical day at work.
